Your Expert Guide to Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a wonderful method to restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down. At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, dental crowns are one of the premier procedures we offer to patients so they can feel confident in their oral health and smile.

Key Points:

• Dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps'' that can be placed over your tooth to protect and restore it if you have had any damage or decay. When a patient has a crown it restores the tooth's shape, size, appearance and strength.

• Dental crowns can also help you if you are struggling with oral hygiene, plaque and tartar buildup, or gum disease.

• The average lifespan for a well-maintained dental crown is typically around 15 years.

At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, dental crowns are one of the premier procedures we offer to patients so they can feel confident in their oral health and smile.

We are proud to be dental crown specialists in offering the latest technology for our treatments and a digital process to make your dental crown experience as effortless as possible.

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped covers or “caps” that are made to fit over a tooth that has damage or decay. The crown is made specifically for the individual tooth and will fit very snugly, providing protection from further damage and restoring the function of the tooth.

At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, we utilize a variety of different types of crowns to restore our patients' smiles. Typically, patients can have onlays and 3/4 crowns if they do not need as much coverage on their underlying tooth as a traditional dental crown. A traditional crown covers the entire tooth.

The procedure of having a dental crown can improve your oral health, as well as give you more confidence in social situations. Once a crown is cemented into place it covers the visible portion and acts in a similar way to a snug hat for your tooth.

Dental crowns can also assist you with a healthy bite, as they can restore the bite surface of a damaged tooth. They can also help to prevent deterioration and alleviate the extra pressure which can occur on your natural teeth if you have a damaged tooth.

At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, we are proud to offer caring and compassionate care to all of our patients, and know the importance of having confidence in your smile.

As one of the top-reviewed dental crown dentists in Berkeley we are proud to offer restorative dental services. Here is our expert guide to the process of having a dental crown.

Why You May Need Dental Crowns

Dr. Nisha Kalra is a top-rated dental crown expert and is proud to offer dental crowns that are designed specifically to each patient’s needs.

A patient may need a dental crown to protect a weak tooth from decay, to prevent a tooth from breaking, or to hold parts of a cracked tooth together. A crown can also cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left, or assist in holding a dental bridge in place.

Crowns have many aesthetic benefits and can also play an important role in the overall function of your mouth. They can improve your bite and chewing ability if you have a broken or decayed tooth, or you have had to have a root canal due to a filling which has decayed or you have had to have a root canal because of decay in your tooth and a filling is not sufficient.

What Does Having a Dental Crown Procedure Involve?

At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry we use a variety of dental crowns depending on a patient's need. Onlays and 3/4 crowns may be appropriate when you still have a solid tooth structure. An onlay or 3/4 crown is considered a more conservative approach compared to a full coverage crown.

Our dental crowns are tooth-colored, meaning they look completely natural. When you come in for your first appointment, Dr. Kalra will assess which type of crown is necessary for your case.

She is highly skilled in assessing whether your condition can benefit from having dental crowns. She uses a specific process which uses digital scanning, utilizing an iTero scanner which can create a 3D image of your teeth. Unlike other dentists, she doesn’t use traditional impressions, which can sometimes cause discomfort when they are being taken.

The 3D image also means the dental crown is a much better fit for the tooth and there is also less waste. At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry we attempt to be as environmentally friendly as possible and employ green dentistry techniques. By providing the laboratory which makes a patient’s dental crown with digital images, we can cut down on waste materials from impressions, as well as unnecessary drives to and from the laboratory itself.

Once she has decided on the best course of treatment and the right dental crown, Dr. Kalra first removes the affected area of your tooth and performs a reshaping of the tooth to receive the crown. The tooth that’s receiving the dental crown is then filed down across the top and sides to make space for the crown itself. When too much of your tooth is missing, which may be due to damage or decay, a filling material can be used to “build up” enough tooth structure for the crown to cover.

In some cases, she may have to do a root canal treatment before your dental crown procedure. Typically she will carry out this process if you have tooth decay, a risk of infection or injury to your tooth’s pulp. Pulp is the soft tissue inside your teeth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.

Dr. Kalra will then place a temporary dental crown on your tooth to protect it until your dental crown arrives from the laboratory, which can typically take up to two weeks.

At your second appointment, the permanent crown is placed on your tooth. First, the temporary crown is removed and the fit and color of the permanent crown is checked. Dr. Kalra uses local anesthetic, also known as a “numbing” drug and your new crown is permanently cemented in place.

At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry we believe our patients get a superior quality of care because we invest so much time and effort into each of our patient’s individual needs. Dr. Kalra is available to answer questions on her personal phone if a patient has any concerns.

Typically, she will do a follow-up call with a patient or schedule a visit in the first two weeks after you have had a crown fitted to check you are happy with the results.

Common Questions Associated with Dental Crowns

1. Do I really need a dental crown?

Dental crowns can be used to fix discolored, broken, or worn-down teeth. Crowns are recommended to protect teeth following root canal treatment and also used to attach dental bridges.

2. Will my crown look natural?

Dental crowns are made to be as close a color match as possible to your teeth and will look completely natural.

3. Will it hurt to have a dental crown placed?

Typically, having a dental crown is pain-free, but each patient is different. We attempt to make the process as comfortable as possible. In some cases patients experience some hot and cold sensitivity in the first few days after having their crown fitted.

4. Can a crowned tooth get a cavity?

A crown itself cannot get a dental cavity, but the tooth underneath can still become diseased. To prevent this from happening, you should care for crowned teeth the same way you care for natural teeth and have regular checkups.

5. How long will my crown last?

Maintaining good oral hygiene can help maintain your dental crown for many, many years. However, if you experience decay on your underlying natural tooth, your crown may weaken or fall out. By having regular dental appointments and professional teeth cleanings, you can make sure your crowns last.

Schedule an Appointment with Nisha Kalra, DDS, Your Top Rated Dental Crown Specialist at Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry in Berkeley, CA

If you are considering having a dental crown, our team is dedicated to answering all your questions. Dr. Kalra wants to ensure the best treatment plan to provide you with a beautiful, healthy smile you can be proud of.

for your consultation and learn more about dental crowns and other restorative dental procedures.